A chara, - I would like to clarify some misleading perceptions that recent media coverage regarding the pension and termination allowances for members of the Oireachtas may have given rise to.
Financial provision for retirement has become a normal feature of most employments and there is no good reason why members of the Oireachtas should be at a disadvantage in this regard. Our own experience of the democratic system establishes clearly and forcefully that what does set the job of TD/Senator apart from most other employments is the uncertainty attached to seeking a career in politics.
Lest there be any perception in the public mind that members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at their own initiative independently reward themselves with financial packages, the reality is far more professional and transparent. In this instance, Report No 35 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector in the course of a thorough appraisal and analysis of members' remuneration, noted the "unique circumstances associated with a parliamentary career and, in particular, the inherent insecurity and uncertainty involved". It was on the basis of the recommendation of that report that the current pension and termination allowance scheme for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas was framed.
It is therefore extremely biased to ignore the objective role of the Review Body and in so doing bring the body politic into disrepute as if the members of the Houses of the Oireachtas were selfishly and covertly granting themselves rewards without due control. It should also be noted that, unlike some other pension schemes, this is a contributory one (6 per cent of gross annual salary).
Of course, while an outgoing member of either House may fail to be reelected to that House, it does happen that unsuccessful candidates may be successful in becoming a member of the other House. The current scheme makes provisions for such situations and termination, severance and pensions are not then paid. Additionally, such payments do not arise where a person immediately becomes a MEP or is appointed by the Government to a full time position.
And finally, as is the law of the land, all payments are liable to the tax code. - Yours, etc.,
Public Relations Officer,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Dublin 2.